Cunk on Life

• Directed by Al Campbell
• January 2, 2025 (US)
• Netflix

Philomena Cunk delves into life’s profound questions from the big bang to AI as only she can. Or that’s the claim but it really takes aim at Christianity.

Since Cunk on Earth I have been eagerly waiting for a new Cunk special. Earth was the ideal antithesis of the self-important documentary by the individual that believes they are doing something significant. Cunk on Life is more of the same though it lacks a focus on life. Rather it takes aim often at Christianity instead of life or philosophies thereof. It is much more after the spiritual than it is about biology or science. They get a few jabs in at Islam as well such as when referencing the Higgs boson particle. You didn’t don’t think that could be done but they made it happen here.

Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) is a parody of the clueless interviewer. She barely has any knowledge and borders on uninformed if not actually being uninformed about whatever she’s talking about via limited intelligence or a lack of preparation. Her brain is like a cat with a laser pointer with her questions also fueled by a level of narcissism.

It’s my understanding that when Morgan as Cunk interviews people they are aware it’s a joke. I would hope so since a few faces in Cunk on Life I recognize from Cunk on Earth. Otherwise these scholars are not that smart. The thing is the questions she often asks are so bizarre and out there that the people are clearly thrown off even if they are expecting a joke somewhere.

The character of Cunk can be absolutely brutal. Her take on van Gogh and his painting Wheatfield with Crows I think genuinely left Professor Richard Thomson (a real professor) speechless. The look on his face said it all. This is in contrast to Professor Brian Cox who comes off as difficult to rattle but that could be him having become a bit of celebrity thus having more experience dealing with entertainment.

The people behind Life are even willing to bite the hand that feeds them. Then again this mocks the type of documentary the BBC is known for. The fictitious streaming service Philomena Cunk promotes-Streamberry-is most certainly a Netflix parody. Then there is the clip of a children’s program which is probably one of the darkest yet funniest things in this mockumentary. 

Cunk is known for a few running gags. Bizarre stories about her mate Paul or references to her Aunt Carol make a comeback. Perhaps the best of the returning lot are segues or references to Technotronics “Pump Up the Jam” which connects to nothing.

The jokes tend to be juvenile but delivered in a very straightforward manner. Morgan never cracks a smile and grants Cunk confusion or bewilderment when the interviewee just does not get or take seriously what she said. Diane Morgan has a weird ability to make the awkward and unusual seem very casual if not almost normal. The looks on her face make those uncomfortable moments amusing if not funny.

If anything Cunk on Life should have been longer and encompass more philosophies of living or even been more a mockumentary of nature shows as was implied by the trailer. Much of its aim was on one group of thought with a smattering of other concepts. They could have tackled self-help groups/gurus. Something more!

Despite some shortcomings Cunk on Life is witty and subversive and just hilarious. It doesn’t exceed its predecessor, but it has come very close. It will give you some good laughs.